Question about homemade laundry detergent

My husband and I are using cloth diapers for our daughter. However, the homemade laundry detergent doesn't take the urine smell out of it and it is rank!! Normally, we use bleach when we wash them along side with the detergent, but since we have run out we have discovered the lack of odor-fighting strength in the detergent. Does anyone have a suggestion to freshen up by daughter's diapers....and anything else that gets tossed into the mix?

Re: Question about homemade laundry detergent

Originally Posted by lmitchell

My husband and I are using cloth diapers for our daughter. However, the homemade laundry detergent doesn't take the urine smell out of it and it is rank!! Normally, we use bleach when we wash them along side with the detergent, but since we have run out we have discovered the lack of odor-fighting strength in the detergent. Does anyone have a suggestion to freshen up by daughter's diapers....and anything else that gets tossed into the mix?

Regardless, you're best bet is to presoak diapers in a bucket of white vinegar to break down the uric acid Prior to washing. Even commercial detergents won't get dried soaked urine out completely without presoaking the diapers. They should be soaked and wrung out prior to washing.

Re: Question about homemade laundry detergent

I use the laundry sauce posted. My first wash is always a short, cold rinse with vinegar, spin. Then wash on warm with a regular amount of sause, 2 rinses (I have a 2 rinse button on my washer) with vinegar in the softener dispenser. If you've noticed it's gotten rather bad you might not be rinsing enough of the detergent out. Try stripping them and then rinsing at least twice, maybe more.